Spaceport Cornwall gets green light for lift-off
They've been awarded an operating licence
Last updated 16th Nov 2022
Spaceport Cornwall has been awarded an operating licence, enabling it to host the UK's first space launch.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced that the site in Newquay can be used for sending satellites into space.
There is still no fixed launch window yet, as this will follow Virgin Orbit receiving their operating licence.
A repurposed Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 aircraft named Cosmic Girl and Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne rocket travelled from California in the US to Spaceport Cornwall.
Their mission has been given the title Start Me Up in tribute to British band The Rolling Stones.
The 747 will take off horizontally while carrying the rocket, before releasing it at 35,000ft over the Atlantic Ocean to the south of Ireland.
The plane will return to the spaceport, while the rocket will ignite its engine and take multiple small satellites into orbit with a variety of civil and defence applications.
They will be the first satellites launched into space from Europe.
Satellites produced in the UK have previously needed to be sent to foreign spaceports to get them into space.
CAA chief executive Richard Moriarty described the awarding of the first spaceport licence in the UK as "an historic moment".
He went on: "We're proud to be playing our part in facilitating the UK's space ambitions through assessing the safety, security and other requirements of these activities.
"This is another major milestone to enable this country to become a leading launch nation."
Spaceport Cornwall is one of seven spaceports being developed across Britain.
The Government hopes commercial space launches will be worth £3.8 billion to the UK economy over the next decade.